Where did the weekend go? I think I blinked and missed it. But then most weekends pass by in a flash when I’m not working. It was certainly busy, mostly due to taking Isobel to various activities. Plus she had her friend round for a sleepover…midnight feasts, making slime, you know how it goes! I remember how much fun it was having sleepovers at that age; now I have fun with fashion rather than staying up late and having pillow fights!

I certainly found a bargain with this French Connection tartan jacket…it cost all of £5, plus the postage was free too!

I’ve always loved a charity shop or eBay bargain, but I’m now trying harder than ever to make more environmentally friendly purchases. Of course, I’m still partial to a little Asos spree once in a while, but I’m thoroughly enjoying buying preloved clothes. Bagging a bargain and being eco-friendly is a winning combination. I certainly found a bargain with this French Connection tartan jacket…it cost all of £5, plus the postage was free too!

My attention turned towards tartan while thinking about what to wear for the Match Made in Seven punk theme. A few months before, I’d had my eye on a tartan biker jacket on eBay, but I didn’t get round to buying it…and then it sold. So when Nancy announced punk as the group’s first theme I was kicking myself for not snapping it up. I looked for a tartan A line skirt instead but couldn’t find one in time. In the end I wore a Sex Pistols T-shirt, leather skirt and biker boots. But once I get an idea in my head I have to see it through, so I carried on searching.

I really like the unusual mix of orange, dark red, grey and black.

As luck would have it I found this French Connection tartan biker jacket with a starting bid of just a fiver. Nobody else bid on it so it was mine! I really like the unusual mix of orange, dark red, grey and black. It pairs well with my the check print ankle boots I bought in the January sales, and I had the perfect matching accessories with the orange bag, earrings and bracelet. I think tartan/plaid might be my latest obsession!

Thanks so much for all of your kind comments about the theft of my foxy friends, I really appreciate every one of them. Still no news I’m afraid, but we’re trying to stay hopeful.

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I bought this leopard print waistcoat about a year ago from an online members only sale site (either Brand Alley or Secret Sales) and then promptly forgot all about it. That’s what happens when you put five things on one coat hanger! I rediscovered it while going through some of the stuff in what I call my dressing room, but what what my husband and daughter call “the disaster room”. It is a bit of a tip, I have to confess. Here’s another confession: it was under a leopard print jacket that I bought on eBay…and have never worn. That disaster room’s a little treasure trove!

Sleeveless jackets are useful for layering when you don’t want to wear a thick sweater – you can still wear a coat over them without the bulk of a jumper.

Sleeveless jackets are useful for layering when you don’t want to wear a thick sweater – you can still wear a coat over them without the bulk of a jumper. Better still, if they pack a punch in the print department you don’t need to think too hard about what to wear with them. I prefer a monochrome base when I’m wearing a statement jacket, especially animal print. Rather than add another colour I varied the texture with the sheer polka dot sleeves. The top’s quite old, but one of my favourites (I also have it in cobalt). The leopard print court shoes are also really old…in fact the only new part of this outfit is the bracelet which I bought at Barbados airport in October. Delayed flights can be a blessing for shopaholics!

I chose two of my favourite Zara accessories – the hat and bag – to finish off the look. The bag design is genius – it has interchangeable flaps that attach with a zip, but this one is my favourite. You can see the other outfits I’ve worn it with here and here.

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Happy weekend! The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy…mainly due to the most wonderful trip to France! We spent a week in Paris (where I ran the marathon) and a couple of days in Burgundy visiting friends who live in a hamlet near the town of Avallon. I’ll be posting more about my trip in the coming days, but first I thought I’d share my latest outfit post.

I have a couple of pairs of black trousers but these ones from Tibi are by far my favourites. I bought them in sale from the Outnet several years ago, and although they were still a little expensive (I think about £85) the quality of the fabric and cut justifies the price tag for me. The leather trim on the pockets and waistband of these classic cut trousers adds a touch of luxe and makes them perfect for an evening out as well as for a smart daytime look.

The leather trim on the pockets and waistband of these classic cut trousers adds a touch of luxe and makes them perfect for an evening out as well as for a smart daytime look.

I was planning on wearing a plain white shirt to create a slightly androgynous look until I came across this check print top from Warehouse which had got buried under a jacket in the wardrobe. It feels very comfortable to wear and the crossover draping at the front is quite flattering (post-lunch food baby not a problem!). Although court shoes work really well with these trousers I picked out a pair of white leopard print heels from Kurt Geiger (which I’d completely forgotten buying until I had an impromptu shoe box opening spree!). I was astounded when I found the receipt in the box to find that they cost the princely sum of £9! Kurt Geiger shoes for less than a tenner…what a bargain! No wonder I keep buying shoes!